Hydraulic valve



`lune 9, 1942. J. M. TOWLER ET AL HYDRAUL I C VALVE Filed Aug. l, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. I.

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June 9, 1942. J, M TOWLER ET AL 2,286,026

HYDRAULIC VALVE Filed Aug. 1, 1940 v 3 sheets-sheet 2 June 9 1942- J. M. TOWLER ET AL 2,285,025

HYDRAULIC VALVE Fig. 3.34

Fig. 35

Figl4.

J 30 31 Fig] n. i 1 "l 0 l l l 15 17 57 l-r 143 161 Patented June 9, 1942 John Maurice Towler-and Frank Hathorn Yorkshire, England August l, 1940, Serial 190.349,102 Great Britain June 8, 1939 Application Towler,

13 Claims. (Cl. 121-164) This invention relates hydraulic valves :for

` reversing hydraulic machinery such for example as for controlling the hydraulic traverse oi! machine tools o! the kind in which either the work or the tool is automatically reciprocated by a hydraulic piston and Vcylinder or a hydraulic rotary motor such, for example, as honing machines, grinding machines, shaping machines, planing machines, hydraulic liits and hydraulically operated reciprocating conveyors.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a valve oi 'the above kind, preferably tappet operated, to reverse the machine at each end of its traverse, which valve embodies a hydraulic detent to hold the'valve at each extremity of its movement and which'will permit the valve satisfactorily to control the operation of the hydraulic piston or motor at variable or xed speeds up to three hundred or more reciprocations per minute.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a valve .as above with means, operable by the operator, whereby the hydraulic detents may be put out of action in such manner that the valve may be operated by hand to start and stop the machine at any position oi the stroke, or put the tappet or other automatic gear out of action so that the operator may control the movement of the hydraulic piston or motor by hand whereby the machine can be made to traverse past the tappets if desired.

The present invention .broadly consists of a hydraulic reversing valve said valve comprising ysuction means which in normal operation of the valve hold the valve at each extremity oi its movement and which offer a yieldable resistance to release and means operated by the hydraulic piston or other reciprocating member, the movement of which is to be controlled, and serving to overcome or release the hold of each suction means in turn and permit the valve to open each end of the one or more hydraulic cylinders to pressure liquid in alternation.

In a valve according to the present invention it is preferred that the moving member of the valve, which is preferably of the piston type, shall have a fly-over action so that each reversal of the valve member shall take place with great rapidity. vThis may be eilected by applying endwise pressure to. the valve member through a spring which under the resistance afforded by the suction means is thereby compressed after which the pressure is positively applied to the valve member to cause the suction hold on the valve member to break. The loaded spring then shoots the valve member to the opposite extremity of movement where it is held by the other suction means until again released by the lendwise pressure. The endwise pressure is preierably applied through a tappet gear operated by the hydraulic piston or other reciprocating part oi the mechanism the movement oi which is to be controlled. The stroke of the reciprocating. member and the number of reversals per unit of time may be varied by predeterminedly adjusting the tappet gear.

Alternatively the suction hold may be broken either by distorting a iiexible'diaphragm forming part of each suction means or by valve means to restore a balance oi pressure on both sides of each said suction means.

The suction means for a valve according to Y the present invention may comprise two recesses each adapted normally to be immersed' in a body of liquid and situated in relation to each other so as to correspond to the limits oi the' reciprocating movement or the valve member, two displacement bodies movable with the valve member into and out of each recess in alternation and a flexible or other suitable diaphragm associated with each displacement body so as to close the open side of each recess, when its associated displacement body has entered said recess, and be held ilrmly there against by the suction resulting from the displacement of liquid from the recess by the entry of the displacement body.

Alternatively the diaphragm may be dispensed with, the displacement bodies themselves being adapted to provide the desired suction hold, the breaking thereof being effected by opening the interior of each recess in turn to eilect a restoration inthe pressure balance on each side oi the displacement body. y

The suction means may conveniently be rendered inoperative by allowing the displaced liquid from each recess to return past a manually operable valve. The liquid may be allowed to A return either from the opposite recess by way of a connecting pipe controlled by a single valve or directly from the immersing liquid through separate valves. Y

vIn a valve according to one embodiment of the present invention the operation to render inoperative the suction means also renders inoperative the tappet gear and breaks the current supply to a motor-driven hydraulic pump, thus stopping the supply of pressure liquid.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and carried into effect several emample, by aid of theaccompanying drawings in which: I

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a valve according to one embodiment inwhich the suction means are arranged at opposite ends of the piston valve and showing the same operatively associated with a hydraulic piston and cylinder.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a valve 'according to a further embodiment in which the suction means form a separate unit which is disposed at one end of the piston valve.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, partly in section. of the left hand portion of the apparatus illus trated in Fig. 2 showing the lever for manually operating the hydraulic valve.

Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal section showing a modied form of the suction means illustrated in Fig. 2.

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating further modiiications in the suction means.

In the example illustrated in Fig. l the control valve is of the packingless piston type, and comprises a valve member I reciprocable withinv a bore in a valve body 2 and serving to control the delivery ofpressure liquid from a hydraulic pump or other source oi supply to opposite ends of a hydraulic cylinder 3. The pressure liquid enters the valve casing through the inlet 4 and is directed by the piston of the valve to the opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder in alternation -through the connections 5 and 6. When 2,280,025 .bodiments will now be described by way of exand so on each time pistonhastobereversed.

For the purpose of thus holding the valve piss ton in each change-over position the present invention requires the use oi suction means which offer a yieldable resistance to release.

In thev example illustrated in.Fig..1 these suction means comprise two recessesl Il and Ill each adapted normally to be immersed in a body of liquid and situated in relation to each other so as to correspond to the .limits of movement of the valve piston, two displacement bodies I'I and I8 movable with the valve piston into and out oi' each recess inalternation and a rubber or other suitable ilexible diaphragm I9 and 20 abutting against the outside facel of each displacement body so as to close the open side of eachsrecess when its associated `displacement body has entered the recess and beheld rmly there against by the suction vresulting from the displacement of liquid from the-recess. In the embodiments of Figs. 2,'6', Il and 8, the suctionl means comprise recesses i5 and I8', the displacement bodies I'I' and l'andgthe flexible diaphragms I9' and 20', and the association of such elements with the remainder ofjthe structure will be perceived in the specific description of such embodiments,

. In the example illustrated'nFig'. l the recesses I 5 and I6 are formed at opposite ends of the bore in which the valve pistoni'reciprocates, whilst the displacement bodies with` @their accompanying ilexible diaphragms arewrnounted insuitable repressure liquid is thus being supplied to one end of the hydraulic cylinder the ,liquid in the opposite end of the cylinder is expelled by the movement of the hydraulic piston 'I through the adjoining supply inlet and so out through one or other of the exhaust outlets 8 or 9. For example if pressure liquid is ventering the left hand end of the hydraulic cylinder through the connection 5 the piston 1 will move to the right and expel the liquid within the right hand end of the cylinder through the connection 6 and so to exhaust through the outlets.

In the example illustrated the valve piston is reciprocated by a striker IU carried by the hydraulic piston rod II through the medium ou'. tappets I2 and interposed springs I3 both of which are adjustably mounted on a tappet rod Il ,form-f ing an extension of the valve piston. The tappets are positioned on the tappet rod in predetermined spaced relationship on opposite sides of the striker I0, the spacing of the tappets corresponding to the stroke of the hydraulic piston required to impart the desired traverse to the work or tool of the machine with which lthe valve is associated.

The object of the springs I3 is to impart a iiy` over action of the valve piston from one extremity of its movement to the other, This object is attained by providing means for restraining the valve piston against freedom of movement when at each extremity of movement so that the striker III in overcoming such restraining influence fully compresses the spring which is contacted. Therefore when the restraining influence is overcome, which occurs after the spring has/been compressed, the energy in` the loaded spring serves to iling the valve piston suddenly to its opposite extreme position where it is again held, when the releasing operation is repeated,

`grip ofthe lucht-han Y flexed inwards bygthe; diife lationship upon opposite endsfof'fthe spindle of the valve piston.A kfIl'ie A`liquidfiur immersing the recesses, I5 and Iisrv centaine'` chambers 121| and 22which said liquid'and 'these 'chamber in thefextreme left-hand In the 'drawings the vl` lvef fzwhich is ntialupressuresexisting within'and with'o y, y y

surerequired to er'coine. th Sumcient tofprfduce rst-.t spring which isfsupported f right hand sidejof "thejgstike breaking of-the'suctionhold. v tion is brokenV by. the fend pres rel thus; positiveionl hold is ly appliedlbyvthestriker, the piston is freed,v so permitting the compressed spring tto" exert inyiluence enoughv 'to lling the valvef piston 'with greatrapidity acrossto" `the opposite position, where it is similarly held by the resulting suction grip ofthe opposite diaphragm I9, which, in the igure, is shown in the relaxed or disengaged position. I v

' From the above description it will be understood that the lstroke of the valve piston isv al- Ways the same whilstthe stroke of the hydraulic piston is variable and determined by the spacing of the tappets I2. It will also b e gathered that the valve piston must always complete its change-over before reversal of the hydraulic piston can occur. It is for this reason that it is preferred that the valve piston should have a ily-over action so that the speed of its motion at each change-over shall always exceed the speed of motion of the hydraulic piston.

In certain circumstances it is desirable that the valve shall be operable by hand such as when the part to be traversed has to be inched into position or for other reasons. For this purpose means are provided for rendering the sucthe motion 'or une hydraulic sealed by endv .tijon byrvthe suction aaien' forl the rlfaslthe 'suction means inoperative. This is eilected in all the examples illustrated by providing'means in connection with each recess I and Il so that the liquid may escape in advance of each entering displacement body and pressure be maintained equalised on both sides of the flexible or other diaphragm.

In the example illustrated in Fig. 1 the above means take the form of a pipe 24, forming a 'connecting bridge between the interior of both recesses, and an interposed hand operated valve which, when opened, permits liquid displaced from one recess to pass along the connecting pipe into the opposite and open recess. The two recesses are thus open to each other and in consequence the valve piston is freed from any restraining iniluence and may be moved freely in either direction by hand, for example, by the hand lever 26.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2 diil'ers from the example illustrated in Fig. l principally in that the suction holding means is separated from the valve casing proper and forms a unit 21 arranged at one end of the valve spindle I4', on an extension of which are formed or mounted the displacement bodies I1' and I8', and the diaphragms I9' and 20'. 'I'he recesses, in this case formed-in opposite sides of the body of the unit 21, are indicated by the references I5' and I8'. Y In this embodiment the tappets I2 are slidably mounted upon the main part of the valve spindle I4' and are held apart against stops 23 on one side and by a shoulder on the other or inner side of the rod, by a single interposed spring I3. Each tappet is in turn forced inwards against the interposed spring and into abutting engagement witli the opposite tappet by a pair of strikers I0 both of which are attached to a reciprocable plate 29. This plate is coupled by a pin and slot connection and 3| respectively to a lever 32 which receives a rhythmic oscillating motion from the hydraulic piston or other reciprocating member, the motion of which is to be controlled, by a tappet carried thereby, which strikes a pin 331 see Fig. 3, as th tappet moves back and forth with the motion of said member. The pin 33 projects from a member 34 which is mounted to slide along a squared shaft 35, forming part of the lever 32 and one of the pivots about which the lever oscillates, and within a sleeve 36 forming a bearing for said member 34. The other and opposite part of the pivot is indicated at a.

The means, in the present example, for rendering the suction devices inoperative comprise inlets 31 leading from the inner end of each recess I5', I6', to a bore in the middle of the block forming the body oi the unit 21, which inlets are opened and closed by the vertical movementof a sliding plug piece 33 which fits within the bore 33. The plug piece is normally held in the depressed position shown against a spring 40, see Fig. 3, by a slide 4I which ts within a recess cut in one face of the lever 32 and is held in place within said recess by a. cover plate 42, The underface of the slide 4I is curved as shown, so that contact is maintained with the upper face of the plug piece as the lever 32 oscillates about its pivots.

When in the depressed position shown the plug piece closes the inner ends of the inlets 31, but when the plug piece is allowed to rise, under the iniiuence of its spring, a reduced portion 43 is brought into registration with said inlets, thus opening the same and placing the interior of each recess in communication with the interior of the -main casing 44 containing the valve body and the `suction unit, which casing is maintained nlled with oil. The suction devices are thereby rendered inoperative.

The above release of the plug piece 33 is brought about by sliding the member 34 outwards along the squared shaft 35 andthereby removing a bush 34a, forming an extension of the member 34, from the position shown in Fig. 3, where such bush resides above and in contact with the'upper end of the slide 4I, to a position where it is clear of the upper end of the plug piece.

The slide and the plug piece 33, which are normally held depressed by the bush 34a, are thus released and are permitted to rise under the inuence of the spring 43 and so open the inlets 31.

When the* member 34 is moved outwards' to cause the suction devices to become inoperative, the pin 33 will also be moved out ot the path ot the tappet gear thus disconnecting the lever 32 from the automatic operating means and permitting the same to be turned by hand. The endwise movement of the member 34 may also be utilised to stop the supply of pressure liquid to the hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulic traverse. This is conveniently eilected by utilising a motor driven hydraulic pump to supply the pressure liquid' and arranging a suitable make and break switch 45 in advance o1 the member so that a plate 45 mounted on the outside face of the member will contact with and depress in turn spring plungers 41 of the make and brake switch and thus cut of! the electric current from vthe pump motor in known manner. The means for manually operating the member 34 to effect the above results is illustrated in Fig. 4 and comprises a hand lever 48, which is supported intermediate its length by a ball joint 43 and engages by its inner end a recess 53 in the squared shaft 35. By this means the lever is capable both of an oscillating movement to impart a corresponding oscillating movement to the lever 32, and

consequently reciprocatory movement of the valve piston I, and also a side to side movement to slide the member 34 along the squared shaft 35. If desired the diaphragms I3 and 23' in the suction means may be dispensed with, the displacement bodies themselves being relied upon to produce the desired suction hold.

This modification is illustrated in Fig. 5 and ingelves making the displacement bodies n" and I3' a fairly close sliding tit in their recesses I5" and I6", and effecting release by opening the space in each recess behind each body to the surrounding liquid. Such release may conveniently be effected by the means shown in the gure, which comprise passages 5I leading from the inner end of each recess and a reciprocating valve member 52 of the piston type adapted to open and close the outer nd of each passage in alternation. This valveme'mber is attached to, and receives its reciprocating motion from one of the strikers I0" which is extended for the purpose.

The escape of liquid from each recess in advance of each displacement body as it enters is allowed by providing an outlet 53 from each passage, and a non-return valve 54 serving to close said outlets against ingress of liquid from the outside.

A further method of breaking the hold of each suction device in lieu of the axially applied end pressure utilised in the arrangements illustrated in Figs'. l and 2 is to apply pressure to the overlapping edge of each flexible diaphragm so as t0 distort the same out of contact with the edge of its recess. One means for this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 6 andcomprises a finger 55 pro-l jecting at right angles to the outer end oi a rod 56 the inner end of which is carried by and reciprocates with one of the strikers I In the arrangements illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6 the rod carrying the displacement bodies and, when used, the flexible diaphragms, is shown as sliding within a hole extending from one recess to the other. With such a construction great care must be exercised in seeing that the fit of the rod within its hole shall be such as to prevent leakage from one recess to the other. As such afit is difcult both to obtain and maintain such a construction may, with advantage, .be dispensed with. Two methods of doing this are illustrated in Figs. '1 and 8.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 7 the block or body 213 containing the recesses is in the form of a U whilst the displacement bodies and flexible orother diaphragms, when the latter are used, are carried by a crank arm 51 which is attached to the outer end of the valve extension spindle I43'and extends to within the gap of the U -shaped body 213, within which it re-ciprocates.

In the other arrangement illustrated in Fig. 8 the displacement bodies and iiexible or other diaphragms, when the latter are used, are carried by a yoke 58 which surrounds the body portion 214. This yoke, like the crank-arm in the preceding arrangement is carried by the outer lend of the spindle |44.

Whilst iiexible diaphragms of rubber or similar material are very satisfactory in use, it is not essential that the same should be used, as; rigid diaphragms may equally well be employed but in such ca'ses there should be a iiexible connection between the displacing member and the rigid diaphragm.

What we claim is:

1. A hydraulic reversing valve for opening each end of a hydraulic operating cylinder to pressure liquid, incorporating suction means for holding the valve at each extremity of its movement under a yieldable resistance to release and means operated by a reciprocating member, the movement ofA which is to be controlled, and serving to overcome or release the hold of each suction means in turn and displace the valve to open each end of the hydraulic operating cylinder to pressure liquid in alternation.

2. In a hydraulic reversing valve the combination with a movable member, releasable suction means for separably holding the movable member at each extremity of its movement, resilient means operatively associated with each suction means, means for periodically acting successively on said resilient means and said movable member, whereby each said resilient means is in turn loaded, and thereafter the hold of its associated suction means on the movable member isfterminated, whereby each said resilient means is adapted to unload 'simultaneously with each release of the movable member to impart a sudden impulse to said movable member to cause said member to change over to its opposite exremity of movement with a rapid or fly-over action.

3. In a hydraulic reversing valve, means for creating any-over action to produce rapid reciprocation of a piston-type valve member controlling the delivery of pressure liquid to and its exhaust from each hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulic traverse mechanism of an associated machine to control reciprocation of the operating piston effecting said traverse, said means comprising two recesses each adapted normally to be immersed in a body of liquid and situated in relation to each other so as to correspond to the limits of the reciprocating movement of said valve member, two displacement bodies movable with the valve member into and out of each recess in alternation, and adapted to close the open side ot each recess when its associated displacement body has entered said recess and be held iirmly by the suction'resulting from the displacement of liquid from said recess by the entry of the displacement body and thereby similarly hold the valve member against movement, and means for terminating the suction hold of each displacement body in turn said means being operated by the reciprocating member, the movement of which is to be controlled.

4. A hydraulic valve according to claim 2 wherein each suction means consists of a recess immersed in liquid into and out of which recess a displacement member is moved, and having means for rendering the suction means inoperative, said means comprising a valve which may be operated at the will of the operator to place each recess in open communication with the liquid in which the same is immersed so that 'when said valve is open a pressure balance exists on both sides of each suction producing means.

5. A hydraulic valve according to claim 1 wherein each suction means comprises a displacement member, a normally immersed recess into and out of which the displacement member is moved with the corresponding movement of the valve member and a diaphragm for closing the open end of the recess following the entry of the displacement member the arrangement being such that the diaphragm is held against the open end of the recess by suction.

6. A hydraulic valve according to claim 1 wherein each suction means consists of a displacement member and a normally immersed recess, said displacement member being a close sliding t in the recess into and out of which it is moved with the corresponding movement of the valve member, said reciprocating means serving to open the interior of the recess to immersing liquid the arrangement; being such that. the displacement member is held in position within the recess by suction its release being eifected by opening the interior of the recess to the immersing liquid to destroy the suction.

1. A hydraulic valve according to claim l having means for operating the said valve byv hand and means for rendering the suction means inoperative to permit the Valve to be operated .by hand.

8. In a reversible valve assembly for controlling the charging of pressure liquid alternately into opposing ports of a hydraulic cylinder, the piston of which is reciprocated between the ports thereof by the pressure liquid, a movable member reciprocable for alternately opening the respective ports to pressure liquid, suction means acting on said movable member for holding the same under yieldable resistance at the end of each directional movement thereof, and means periodically operable to successively terminate the holding action of the suction means and displace the movable member, whereby to progressively open the respective ports to pressure liquid in alternation.

9. In a reversible valve assembly for controlling the charging of pressure liquid alternately into opposing ports of a hydraulic cylinder, the piston of which is reciprocated between the ports thereof by the pressure liquid, a. movable member reciprocable for alternately opening the respeciive ports to pressure liquid, suction means acting on said movable member for holding the same under yieldable resistance at the end of each directional movement thereof, resilient means connected with said movable member, and means periodically operable to successively load the resilient means against the resistance of the suc'ion means, overcome the resistance of said suction means and displace the movable member, said resilient means upon the termination of the hold of the suction means on the movable member serving to impart a rapid displacement of said movable member, whereby to progressively open the respective ports to pressure liquid in alternation.

10. In a device of the class described, a hydraulically operable cylinder having ports at its opposite ends and a piston for controlling traverse of an element, a source of supply of liquid under pressure, a reversing valve between said source of supply and cylinder comprising a reciprocable member serving at the extremity of its movement for alternately opening the respective ports to pressure liquid from the source of supply, and suction means for holding said movable member under a yieldable resistance to release at each extremity of its movement, and means operableA by said piston and acting on said movable member for successively terminating the hold of the suction means on said movable member and displacing the movable member to alternately open the respective ports to pressure liquid, thereby to control the direction of movement of said piston.

11. In a device of the class described, a hydraulically operable cylinder having ports at its opposite ends and a piston reciprocable therebetween, said piston serving to eiiect a traverse of a mechanism for performing work, a source of supply o1 liquid under pressure for charging thecylinder through its ports against the piston ,to reciprocate the same, a reversing valve comprising a movable member connected between the source of supply of pressure liquid and the cylinder and serving at the extremity of its movement for alternately opening the respective ports to pressure. liquid from the source of supply, suction means for holding the movable member under yieldable resistance to release, at each extremity of its movement, resilient means on said member and means connected between said plston and said movable member and actuable by said piston respectively to load said resilient means against the resistance of the suction means and thereafter overcome the resistance of the suclion means, whereby said resilient means is unloaded for imparting a rapid displacement of said movable member from one extremity to its opposite extremity of movement for respectively opening the ports alternately to pressure liquid, thereby io control the direction of movement of the piston.

12. In a hydraulic reversing valve means for creating a ily-over action t0 produce rapid reciprocation of a piston-type valve member controlling the delivery of pressure liquid to and its exhaust from each hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulic traverse mechanism of an associated machine to control reciprocation of the operating piston effecting said traverse, said means comprising two recesses each adapted normally to be immersed in a body of liquid and situated in relation to each other so as to correspond to the limits of the reciprocating movement of said valve member, two displacement bodies movable with the valve member into and out of each recess in alternation, each said displacement body having associated therewith a diaphragm adapted to close the open side of each recess when its associated displacement body has entered said recess and be held firmly by the suction resulting from the displacement of liquid from said recess by the entry of the displacement body into the recess and thereby similarly hold the valve member against movement, and means for releasing the suction hold of the diaphragm associated with each displacement body in turn, said means being operated by the reciprocating member, the movement of which is to be con-l trolled.

13. A hydraulic valve according to claim 1 wherein each suction means comprises a displacement member, a normally immersed recess into and out of which the displacement member is moved with the coresponding movement of the valve member and a exible diaphragm for closing the open end of the recess following the entry of the displacement member the arrangement being such that the diaphragm is held against the open end of the recess by suction.

JOHN MAURICE TOWLER.. FRANK HATHORN TOWLER. 

